Spur.



No. 769,743. PATENTED SEPT. 13, 1904. W. T. HANAWAY.

SPUR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1904.

NO MODEL.

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UNITED STATES Patented September 13,1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

SPUR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,743, dated September 13, 1904,

Application filed January 21, 1904. Serial No. 190.030- (No model.)

To (all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM T. HANAWAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seymour, in the county of Baylor and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Spur, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved riding-spur for horsemen, and has for its object to provide a simple, durable, and efficient device of this character having a neat and attractive appearance and capable of performing all the functions of spurs of the ordinary construction without the liability of lacerating or otherwise injuring the animal.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for automatically locking the rowel against rotation when the same is forced in contact with the sides or flank of the animal, thereby enabling the rider to obtain a good grip on the animal in case the beast becomes unmanageable.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gravity-catch slidably mounted in the heel-band and adapted to engage and lock the rowel when the spur is tilted in one direction and to automatically release the same when the spur is tilted in the opposite direction or when a slight downward pressure is exerted thereon.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a spur constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the rowel in the locked position. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of the rowel and gravity-catch detached.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

The spur 5, which may be formed of metal or other suitable material, comprises a heelband 6, provided with a rearwardly and upwardly extending shank 7, preferably formed integral therewith, as shown. The end of the shank 7 is bifurcated to form a slot 8, the side walls of which are provided with alined openings adapted to receive a pin 10, upon which is revolubly mounted the rowel 11. The radiating arms 12 of the rowel 11 are preferably rectangular in cross-section, as shown, and are each provided with a rounded or curved portion 12 to prevent the rowel from lacerating or otherwise injuring the animal. A recess 13 is formed in the shank 7, communicating with the slot 8, and slidably mounted in said recess is a gravity-catch 14:, adapted to engage the arms of the rowel and lock the latter from rotation in one direction when the spur is tilted and in position to strike the horse, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The catch 1 1 is provided with an inclined or beveled face 15 and an intermediate notch or recess 16 for the reception of a pin 17, which engages the walls of said recess and retains the catch within the recess of the shank 7. The front ends of the heel-band 6 are provided with rectangular openings 18, and pivotally mounted in said opening are securing-loops 19, the ends of which are fastened together by studs or buttons 20, to which the straps for fastening the spur to the foot are intended to be attached.

In practice when the spur is applied to the animals sides or flank the inclination of the spur will cause the catch to slide forward in the path of the rowel and lock the same from rotation, thereby preventing the rowel from slipping and enabling the rider to obtain a good grip on the animal when the beast becomes unmanageable. By tilting the spur or exerting a slight downward pressure thereon it causes the curved portion 12' to engage the inclined face of the catch 14 and force the same rearwardl y, therebypermitting the rowel to revolve freely.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that 1 have provided a simple, inexpensive, and durable spur the rowel of which is so constructed as to prevent injury to the animal when the spur is applied and one in which the rowel may be locked against rotation and quickly released, when desired, at the will of the rider.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a spur, a rowel free to revolve continuously in one direction, and means for locking the same from movement in the opposite direction.

2. In a spur, a rowel, and a catch movable by gravity to engage and lock the same.

3. In a spur, a rowel, and a catch movable by gravity to lock the same when the spur is tilted in one direction and to automatically release the rowel When tilted in the opposite direction.

4. In a spur, a heel-band, a shank projecting from the rear thereof, a rowel, and a catch slidably mounted in the shank and movable by gravity to engage and lock the rowel.

5. In a spur, aheel-band, a shank provided with a terminal slot and communicating recess, a rowel journaled in the side walls of the slot, and a catch slidably mounted in the recess and movable by gravity to engage and lock the rowel.

6. In a spur, a heel-band, a shank projecting from the rear thereof, a rowel journaled in the shank, a catch provided with an inclined face movable by gravity to lock the rowel from movement in one direction, the

8. In a spur, a heel-band, a shank projecting from the rear thereof, a rowel journaled in the shank and free to revolve in one direction and a catch movable by gravity to engage and lock the rowel from movement in the opposite direction.

9. In a spur, a rowel having a plurality of arms each provided with a terminal rounded portion, and a catch movable by gravity to engage and lock the same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM T. HANAWAY. 

